UKUMBI

Ukumbi is a section that will devout commentaries written by Coastal people on any topical issue.

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KPA saga: Is it a Raila, Mwakwere showdown or walk

SUNDAY TIMES
Sunday, August 17, 2008

by: Dr. Abdillahi Alawy

There is a silver lining in the latest commotion between the Coast MPs and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. It is possible that this is a win-win situation for both sides of the debate. Unfortunately, it is obvious that the warring parties have not seen the opportunities in their argument and are increasingly bent on politicizing the issue. Apparently, a segment of the region’s MPs appears united against the PM’s recent directives that have affected the Ministry of Transport.

But more loudly, the MPs are complaining about what they see as Raila’s micro-managing of a ministry headed by a Coastal. Clearly, the Transport Minister, Hon. Chirau Ali Mwakwere, has twice become the victim of the PM’s imposing vigor in highly visible national and international appearances. The pro-Mwakwere MPs rightly complain that Raila Odinga is purposely overshadowing the Matuga MP. To the extent, the newly crowned Premier has stolen Mwakere’s limelight from Washington DC to the slippery decks of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA); a key institution that falls under Mwakwere’s Transport Ministry.

The open-air agreement between the US and Kenya, and the recent KPA saga are examples in point. In these events Mr. Mwakwere diplomatically allowed Mr. Odinga to patronize and subsequently steal the instant blitz. I witnessed it in Washington DC and I just read about the KPA. Mwakwere has been a Transport Minister longer than Odinga has been a Prime Minister. However, according to the still-unclear pecking-order and the PM’s undefined oversight roles, the PM seemingly appears to be making all the important decisions under Mwakwere’s docket.
For example, there has not been even a word from the Prime Minister on any of those many ministries that don’t have a fax number posted on the Internet; or well-defined ministerial roles clarified on the web.

Additionally, an observation is due here that Raila’s involvement in the Lands Ministry is complimentary and supportive of the ministry and its minister. But, his constant intervention in the Transport Ministry is looking more like interference than nurturing. The current debate centres on whether or not the top KPA post should be reserved for Coastal natives.

The Mwakwere’s cohorts are peddling the idea that KPA should be led by a Mijikenda.
Note the clarification here: not any Coastal but a Mijikenda for the post at KPA; because that has been the past trend. Surprisingly, MP Danson Mungatana does not see that all the Coastal people who have previously held the KPA job were exclusively from the Mijikendas group; pre and post Mwakwere. It is beside the point here, but the names of previous Coastal KPA bosses are, Mturi, Mkalla, Mumba, Mwaruwa etc. Mungatana is a non-Mijikenda, but this time, for some reasons, he is ready to sing along with the Mijikenda leader, Mr. Mwakwere.

The four names listed above and the current KPA boss all come from one tribal group, albeit a family that has primarily occupied the Transport Minister’s as his defined agenda of promoting the Coastal people— also noting that this is in line with the national leadership process of awarding key jobs to the close-ones. Raila is right to state that the KPA post should be a nationwide competitive position to be filled by the most qualified Kenyan. The MPs are also right to insist that a Mijikenda should be heading the KPA.

More importantly Mwakwere is right in that he is being pushed around by a Prime Minister who has an overzealous addiction to Mwakwere’s performance at Transport. Raila is right in that Kenya should not have public positions that are reserved for a certain group of people. Mwakwere should be supported for refusing to be micromanaged or upstaged in roles that are clearly his. Likewise, the Coast MPs are right in standing with their colleague but also highlighting a Coastal dilemma of long-term isolation that may be addressed via clear affirmative processes. aalawy@gmail.com

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Why I find it hard to forgive Moi

By KATAMA MKANGI

Election Platform
Daily Nation
December 19, 2002
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Before he even sought forgiveness from those he has hurt and injured during his long reign, I had already forgiven President Moi. I saw no reason to harbour a personal grudge against him for detaining me once.I didn't do it because I love him, but because I love myself. Not forgiving him would have been like swallowing poison and then expecting him to die of it. That would have been stupid of me, wouldn't it?I forgive him also because I understood his way of thinking. As President, he did not harbour personal hatred against me; he had a responsibility to protect Kenyans from real and imagined enemies.From this perspective, he loved Kenyans and he had to do all he could – including denying one Kenyan his or her democratic rights – to show his love to the rest of Kenyans.

That, I understood. But, the question that I keep asking myself is this: Has President Moi ever loved Kenyans?Colossal, unforgivable irresponsibility I am raising this question because of the emerging painful events in which the Treasury is being systematically looted by his Government's agents. This heinous act by the same Government that professes to be in power for the purposes of protecting national interests is a colossal, unforgivable, irresponsibility.At this time of national political campaigns – just a few days before a new administration comes in – there is no earthly reason for billions of shillings to be hurriedly paid to "debtors" by the Kanu Government.

This action is simply a raid on the Treasury – an activity that has always been symptomatic of a falling dictatorship. Had this not been the case, either President Moi, Vice-President Mudavadi or Kanu presidential contender Uhuru Kenyatta would by now have made a public statement denouncing it, something that has not happened. Behaving as though nothing out of the ordinary is going on can only serve as proof of complicity.I wonder if Kenyans have also noticed the stealthy way in which the Kanu Government is giving away our national resources to foreigners. Having fought so hard for the last two years to see to it that our mineral wealth is not sold cheaply, this Government, now facing defeat at the polls, has decided to betray Kenyans at the eleventh hour.

Taking advantage of the campaign euphoria, it has decided to hand over the titanium mineral wealth found in Kwale to a Canadian firm. In a sense, the timing is perfect because it knows Kenyans are too busy politicking to notice the theft of their wealth right under their very noses!This is a treasonable, treacherous act. It is quite evident that Kanu is bent on sabotaging the economy – even more than it has already done – for very personal reasons.Because it must be aware of it, it is apparent the Kanu regime is remorselessly determined to continue committing crimes against Kenyans – to the last second.This has been its history – one of callous plunder of the nation's wealth to enrich a minority in total disregard to the welfare of the majority.It is due to this wanton plunder that this country has so many poor children in the streets. There are thousands of children who are not only orphaned by HIV/Aids, but many others too whose parents have been rendered destitute by the massive economic mismanagement of the last 24 years.A cynic would regard the proposed Moi Foundation as a symbolic peace gesture for the future. If only the heinous crimes that have precipitated the need for such a philanthropic gesture could be reined in! Such action would have been most appropriate before President Moi's departure, especially after the President's statement on December 12.In one sense, the intensified raiding of the Treasury and giving permits to foreign countries to plunder the country – only a few weeks away from a new government – is proof enough to Kenyans that Kanu has conceded defeat even before we go to the polls.

But it is extremely unfortunate that its functionaries would go on a desperate looting spree in total disregard to the deleterious consequences of such activity on the economy.This is despite the fact that this looting is not helping their "Uhuru for President campaign". Apparently, he has already been abandoned and is merely acting as a decoy while others loot and pillage.But, at the national level, their actions are disastrous. Their intention is to destroy the economy so that, if the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) takes over, it will be unable to fulfil its pledges, among them providing free, universal and compulsory education at the primary level.These are treasonable acts against Kenyans. I hope the incoming Narc government will nullify the titanium deal and relentlessly pursue the looters of the Treasury.It is for these and many reasons that, although at a personal level I have the capacity to forgive President Moi, at the national level, I will be lying if I said I can forgive him.It is only after – even at this late hour – President Moi takes action to stop the ongoing raid on the Treasury and the economic stripping of our national resources by his underlings, that I, and many other Kenyans, will find the heart to forgive him.

Prof Mkangi teaches sociology at the United States International University (USIU), Nairobi.

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